Local News – Tuesday, January 12th, 2021

The Dent County Commissioners met Monday morning at the courthouse. At the meeting, Dent County Treasurer Denita Williams presented the sales tax monies received by the county this month. She reported the General Revenue Fund and LEST Fund each received $56,176.51 and that is $27,918.12 less than January of 2020 which came in at $84,094.63. That is a 33% reduction. The Dent County Jail Operating and Trust funds each received $48,531.41 and that is $30,228.61 less than last January when the county received $78,760.02. The Road and Bridge Fund received $24,265.26 and that is $15,108.48 less than January of 2020 when the county received $39,373.74. The Jail as well as the Road and Bridge funds are each down about 38% from last year. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Wes Mobray indicated grading is being done where possible while brush is being cut on county road 5630. He also said maintenance is being done on county dump truck #125. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson said brush was being cut on Dent County Road 4380 while maintenance was being performed on county roads 2250 and 3180 on the sides of the road that are washing out. He also said two men would be stockpiling white rock at the county road and bridge department shed. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles reported he would be attending a Meramec Regional Planning Commission External Relations meeting Wednesday afternoon and an MRPC Board meeting Thursday. He also said there would be no commissioner meeting Monday, January 18th due to it being MLK Day and the courthouse would be closed. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said she balanced with treasurer on all accounts for December and for the year 2020. She said she has the county financial statement ready for the commissioners to review before it is published later this month in the Salem News. Curley also stated January 26th at 5:00 will be the last day for all election districts to submit their notice that they are or are not having an election on April 6th for the Municipal Election. She also said March 10th would be the last day to register to vote for the Municipal Election. A petition for a Quit Claim Deed for old railway right-of-way in Crawford County was presented to the commission by the Dent County Prosecutor for them to sign to relinquish the property to the petitioners, Jeffrey Perkins and Jacklyn Blanford. The commissioners agreed to sign the petition. The commissioners continued to work on the budget and this Friday after the noon hour, a tentative budget will be available to the public. You can pickup the tentative budget from the clerk’s office at the courthouse. The next commissioner meeting will be held on Monday, January 25th at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meting is open to the public.

If you are a business owner, business manager or you would like to start a business, attend the Business @ Breakfast this Thursday starting at 7:00 in the morning. You may attend in person or via zoom and in-person seats are almost gone!. You will hear from Candace Connell, business loan specialist with the Meramec Regional Planning Commission, who will explain the CARES RLF, also known as a Revolving Loan Fund, which is a loan opportunity in our region that is utilizing special federal funding to support area businesses. This money is intended to spur new business growth through startups, expansions and new business lines. This loan program IS NOT intended for reimbursement or assistance with COVID-19 related expenses. The Business @ Breakfast will be hosted personally by Sally Burbridge, the Salem and Dent County Economic Development Director, and virtually by Sarah Hultine Massengale, from the MU Extension. This get together will be held at the Salem Community Center, Rotary Meeting Room, or you attend via Zoom. Reserve your space today by contacting Sarah Massengale at hultines@missouri.edu. Again, in-person seating is almost full so please inquire if still available. You can also attend by virtual link. Doughnuts and coffee will be served for those attending in person.

Registration is open for online Master Gardener training through the MU Extension. The next 14-week session begins January 17th 2021. While this is not meant to replace in-person training, which still is conducted in many Missouri counties, online classes represent another way to go through the core training required of all MU Extension Master Gardeners and students can work at their own pace within the confines of a course schedule. Classes are delivered as a series of scripted and narrated video presentations. Topics include basic botany, soils and plant nutrition, vegetable gardening, fruit production, landscape design, woody ornamental plants, herbaceous ornamental plants, turf management, insect and disease management, and pesticide safety. Those who successfully complete the core training and perform at least 30 hours of volunteer service qualify for MU Extension Master Gardener certification. Local Master Gardener coordinators help online trainees find volunteer opportunities to meet the service requirements. For details and registration, visit mg.missouri.edu.